Deciding to go to the emergency department

Emergency departments are here to deal with emergencies, but for minor illness or injury, there are a range of other care options to consider:

Sometimes you may not be sure if your problem is an emergency. When in doubt, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84). Qualified staff will advise you on what to do and if you need to go to a GP, pharmacy or emergency department.

When you arrive

When you arrive at the emergency department, please go straight to the reception counter. You will be “triaged” (categorised) by a qualified nurse who assesses the urgency of your condition. You will be given a rating from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most urgent and 5 being the least urgent.

Patients are always treated in order of priority—this ensures the sickest patients are seen first.

It is important to let the triage nurse know any of the following information:

How long will I wait?

A doctor or nurse will see you as soon as they are able. At any time, they may have to step away to treat a life-threatening condition. This will not affect your care, though it may mean a longer stay with us. Your waiting time will depend on the urgency of your condition.

Sometimes the waiting room my appear empty or quiet. If you have been waiting a while, it is because inside the emergency department doctors and nurses are busy attending to very sick patients.

If you are considering leaving the emergency department for any reason, please talk with the triage nurse first.

What can I expect once I start treatment?

Inside the emergency department, your care will often start with an emergency nurse who will monitor you and initiate some therapies such as pain relief until a doctor assesses you.

Emergency department staff work as a team and your treating team can include doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and mental health clinicians.

As part of your assessment you may need further investigations such as blood tests and x-rays. We will recommend a treatment plan for you and discuss what options are available to you.

We encourage you to ask our staff questions about your treatment if you need more information or if you don’t fully understand.

Before you leave

Make sure you understand your diagnosis and any follow up treatment and recommendations. Feel free to ask extra questions or seek clarification.

Make sure you know when to return to your doctors and the course of action if your condition does not improve.